Lawmakers are out of touch with reality

CORRECTION APPENDED: I cannot understand the anger and stupid remarks made in Sound Off. I canít believe people waste their energy complaining to the wrong people. Farmers do not control the cost in stores. If that was possible, they would control the expenses they pay for fertilizer, feed, fuel and equipment.

Those complaining should write their legislators in Washington and Lansing. They just got a raise effective March 27, 2013, for Congress and other federal employees.

Apparently to get recognition you do a poor job and get higher wages. Congress wants to lower spending, why donít they start with their own paychecks? Stop subsidies to the fuel companies. Do what is right by the seniors, middle class and the most vulnerable.

The cost for their raises will cost approximately one billion dollars per year. I donít think the citizens of this state realize how much these budget cuts will affect us starting today, tomorrow, or the end of the month. Senior programs for meals will lose approximately $1.8 million. Do your homework; donít take my word for it. Stop complaining and write your elected officials. They donít worry because most make over $200,000.

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Does that tell you how out of touch they are with the everyday working family and those most vulnerable? The speaker of the House makes almost as much as the president and vice president. Must be nice.

Most farm hands on large corporate type farms barely make it because they canít get overtime (even if they work 18 hours a day). Yet the 112th Congress that has done nothing but argue and bicker gets a raise when programs are being cut for the most needed. What is wrong with this picture?

Jackie Curtis

Mt. Pleasant

CORRECTION: This letter, published in-print and online Sunday, March 24, 2013, states incorrectly that Congress voted a pay raise for itself and federal workers effective this month. In fact, Congress has voted repeatedly to stop that pay raise. The most recent vote was in the continuing resolution that funds the federal government through the end of the fiscal year. This resulted in no pay increase for members of Congress, and extends to three years a pay freeze for federal workers.